Folding table



Feb. 22, 1949.

C. H. ROBERTS FOLDING TABLE Filed March 19, 1946 mm W WWW J u\\ N i a. a M 9% 1; B W Q &.

Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE Charles H. Roberts, Roscoe, Calif. Application March 19, 194.6, Serial No. 655,516

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to tables in general, but more particularly to that type of table which is adapted to be folded into a compact bundle for transportation to camping and picnicking places, also, it is ideally suited for use in connection with out-of-door barbecue activities, and may be used indoors with equal facility as an extra table as occasion may require.

With the foregoing as a premise of use, it may be stated that it is a general object of the invention to' provide a simple, low cost, compact and sturdy folding table which is readily extended for use or folded for disuse and/or transportation.

In connection with the preceding general object of the invention, it is a particular object thereof, to provide a novel and practical table top for collapsible table frames, a table top which is foldable, per se, yet which when installed is very strong and which is easily and quickly attached to the frame of the table, and which when so attached makes in reality a unitary structure having great strength.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table top which can be made to various widths in quick succession to meet requirements of occasion without negation of any quality of strength, accessibility, ease of assembly or compactness for transportation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the detailed description and the subjoined claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the table comprising the present invention; and,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the table top, showing the means employed to secure the individual pieces of the top to the table frame and also showing the method used to center each of the pieces of the top, one with another.

Figure 4 is a detail showing the method of securing the longitudinal top supporting rail to the legs of the table.

Figure 5 is a detail showing the locking means used to attach individual elements of the table top to the frame.

Figure 6 is a detail similar to that shown in Figure 5, excepting that the centering and locking pin is not shown.

Figure 7 is a detail taken substantially on line 1-1, in Figure 5, showing the above mentioned locking means in section.

Figure 8 is a detail taken on line 88, Figure 4,

2 showing a centering and supporting pin used to hold one of the longitudinal rails upon a supporting leg, the other end of the rail being hingedly secured to an adjacent leg by means of an unswelled rivet having peened or otherwise upset heads.

Figure 9 is a detail showing a dowel-pin arrangement adapted to center individual boards of the table top, one to another.

In the drawing the reference character l2 indicates the frame of the table of this invention, and as shown, it comprises the legs l4 which are formed of angle-iron, and each of the four legs of the table frame l2 are swivelly joined, one to another by means of diagonal braces I6, the upper ends of which are swivelly connected to the legs l -l adjacent the upper ends thereof by means of small bolts or unsWelled rivets 18, while each of the braces l6 are swivelly connected with the ends of metal strips by means of upset rivets 2|, while the other of the ends of the strips 20 are swivelly connected with the legs l4 and adjacent the lower end thereof. Each of the braces 16 are swivelly joined one to another in pairs across the ends and the'sides of the frame l2 as shown.

In viewing the table frame I2 as shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that I provide longitudinally disposed angular supports 24 for the table top 26. The angle irons 24 are pivoted adjacent one of their ends to the exterior face of the upper end of the legs 14 which are diagonally disposed with respect to one another, while the opposite ends of the rails are provided with apertures within which pins 32 are centered as a means of longitudinal support for the angle irons. It is to be noted that the pins 32 are diagonally disposed with respect to one another in like manner to the pivotal supports 24c. Upon the sides of the frame l2 and adjacent the upper ends of the legs I4, I place a brace comprising the metal strips 40a and 4% which are pivotally joined to the legs l4 and are so joined with one another as to extend the legs I4 their full permissible width when the brace 40 has been passed through its dead center and comes to rest against the lower surface of the top of the table as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Each of the longitudinal rails 24 are provided with openings which have slot 52 directed toward the face 54 thereof, whereby screws or studs placed in the individual boards 26a of the top 26, are first centered within the opening 50 and are then moved sidewise in sufi'icient degree to permit the shank of the screw to enter the relatively narrow confines of the slot 52, whereby when thus placed the head of the screw or stud overlaps the sides of the slot 52 and thus securely holds the individual boards 26a of the top 26 fixedly although detachably secured to the frame I2 and in :particular to the longitudinal rails 24 thereof. Dowel [pins 58 secured in certain of the boards 26a and fitted into recesses of like diameter and length in certain of the boards, provide a facile means to center each of the boards with respect to one another.

The preceding description is believed to be conclusive of the construction of my table, a brief statement concerning the mode of assembly will now be had.

The frame of the table is erected by laterally pulling upon each of the legs l4 rotationally until the braces 56 gradually assume their most extended position or approximately so, thereafter, the end 24 of the rail 24 is swung upwardly upon its pivotal connection with the leg I 4 of the frame i2, until the pin 32 is aligned with the opening or aperture 38 for nesting, thus detachably securing the rail 24 in longitudinal position. The other of the rails 2 is likewise secured in hori zontal position, and when thus placed in position, the frame 12 is ready to receive the individual boards 26a which comprise the top 26 or the top as a Whole centered and squared by means of the dowel pins 53, may be placed upon the horizontal rails 22 and then adjusted in such manner by movement until the screws of which there is one adjacent the ends of each of the boards 26a, are centered upon the opening 50. Thereafter, and upon like centering of the pins or screws at the other of the ends of the boards 26a, the frame is extended or expanded to its full position by means of raising the brace members 40a and 40b until the center thereof is in substantial flush contact with the underside of the table top, this action forces the rails 24 lengthwise of the boards 26a in sufiicient degree to cause the shanks of the several screws 5| or studs to enter the slots 52, whereby the screws being confined and the heads thereof overlap the sides of the slots 52, the boards 26a are individually secured in detachable relation upon the top of the frame of the table, and since they are collectively interlocked b reason of the dowel pins 58, the table top 26 is firmly and securely held in position in such manner that there can be no lateral movement, nor can individual boards spring below the level of a next adjacent board, thus forming a rigid and for all practical punposes, a unitary structure which is ideally adapted for camp and other occasional uses, not alone because of its sturdy nature,

:but also because the whole assembly is quickly and easily erected or dis-assembled for transportation.

The present drawing and description are illustrative of my preferred mode of construction only, accordingly any variation of detail which falls within the scope and spirit of the following subjoined claim is to be considered and will be considered by me to be an infringement of the invention herein disclosed.

I claim:

A table comprising a table top and a foldable frame including horizontal rails adapted to support said top, said rails being pivotally attached to said frame at their one end and being supported upon a pin extending from said frame at the other of the ends thereof, said rails being provided with openings, there being a smaller opening forming a recess at one side of each of said first named openings, and studs, said studs being dependent upon the under-side of said table top, said studs, openings and recesses being shaped so that the studs can enter the said openings and move laterally thereof into said recesses, and means to lock said studs into said recesses, said means comprising pairs of brace members hinged together at their inner ends and being fulcrumed upon and being adapted to move through points of medial longitudinal alignment whereby upon being moved upwardly through said point of alignment said braces expand said frame and rails in suificient degree to force said rails laterally relative to said studs whereby said studs enter said recesses and are held in such position, said studs being formed with flanged heads shaped to over-hang said recesses whereby upon being brought in co-operative relationship said studs and associated table top cannot be lifted from said frame by vertically applied pressure.

CHARLES H. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are, of record in the file of this patent; Y 

